Most natural streams in Paktia silt up or go dry

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Most of natural streams across southern Paktia province have become silted or gone dry, causing a shortage of irrigation water.

Many of the water channels in Gardez, the provincial capital, Zurmat, Ahmad Aba, Syed Karam and Mirzaki districts are clogged with sediments or have dried up.

Farmers in the past used the natural streams to irrigate their fields, but now they are full of soil, silt and dirt dust or dried off due to drought and insecurity.

Sardar, a resident of Ahmad Aba district, told Pajhwok Afghan News some people had dug wells and installed water pumps for irrigating farms. Personal water pumps have left a negative impact on natural streams.

Jamil Rahman, an inhabitant of Gardez, said fewer natural streams were intact in his area. “People irrigate their farms through natural streams, but they would face serious problems if the water channels go dry.”

Several other residents voiced similar complaints. They asked the government to pay greater attention to resolving their problems.

Rural Rehabilitation and Development Director Zabit Ahmadzai said they had launched a campaign to de-silt and clean the natural streams in some areas of the province.

“The rural rehabilitation and development has cleaned 250 streams and canals in a number of districts, a process which is still underway,” he said. The streams in the province largely originate from the Spin Ghar area.